Chapter 47: Fever Pitch

## Chapter 47: A Torrent of Activity

As the two descended the stairs, they found the street already teeming with figures, all converging towards the very heart of the Youming Black Market.

"This scene is truly grand!" Ye Chen exclaimed, once again adjusting his ghost-head mask.

"Here are Disguise and Voice Altering Pills. Swallow one," Xiong Er said, fishing two pills out from his trouser pocket and handing them to Ye Chen. "They can change your appearance and voice. Better safe than sorry, as they say."

Ye Chen initially reached for them, but remembering where they had been kept, he gave a dry cough. "You use them! I'll stick with the mask."

With that, he produced the mask from his robes and settled it onto his face.

"No need to be shy." Xiong Er was unashamed, completely ignoring Ye Chen's disdainful gaze as he swallowed both the Voice Altering and Disguise Pills.

"Why do you keep your storage pouch in your trouser pocket?"

"Safety."

The Youming Black Market's central area was dominated by a pavilion that soared into the clouds, a magnificent structure known as the Hidden Dragon Pavilion. This was the famed auction house of Youdu.

At this moment, viewing from above, one could see streams of people pouring in from all four directions, each individual clearly not to be trifled with, though their movements were intentionally subdued.

Before long, the area in front of the Hidden Dragon Pavilion was a solid mass of people.

"Why hasn't the door opened yet?" some people were already growing impatient.

"The appointed time hasn't arrived yet. What's the rush?"

"I wonder what treasures the Heavenly Profound Sect will be auctioning this time."

"An auction hosted by the Heavenly Profound Sect is indeed bound to be extraordinary," Ye Chen couldn't help but inwardly marvel from the back of the crowd.

Soon, the massive doors of the Hidden Dragon Pavilion groaned and vibrated, slowly swinging open.

The moment the doors parted, a black-clothed elder leaning on an Azure Dragon staff was the first to step inside.

"Who is this person? How arrogant!"

"You don't know? That's the Black Mountain Old Man, a formidable force in his own right!"

"My eyes must be deceiving me."

Following the Black Mountain Old Man, several other elders entered in a procession.

Immediately after, the crowd surged forward, clamoring to get inside the Hidden Dragon Pavilion.

"Let's go, let's go," Xiong Er also followed the flow of people, his ample frame nearly squeezed into a meat patty.

Only when the throngs thinned did Ye Chen finally move his feet and step inside.

Upon entering, Ye Chen discovered that the Hidden Dragon Pavilion was a world unto itself, spanning a vast area of fully ten thousand *zhang*.

The hall was adorned with carved railings and jade balustrades, radiating divine splendor. Even the ornamental spirit grasses and flowers were truly remarkable.

"What a grand undertaking!" Ye Chen exclaimed in admiration.

Those who entered quickly found their seats. Cultivators participating in the auction for the first time mostly wore expressions of novelty, while those who had been here before appeared much more indifferent.

"Just this, just this." Xiong Er pulled Ye Chen towards a jade table in a corner. This fellow was completely uninhibited, grabbing the spirit fruits on the table and stuffing them into his mouth. As he ate, he didn't forget to squirrel several away in his robes.

"Damn you, leave me some!" Ye Chen couldn't help but curse loudly.

"You're wearing a mask, you can't eat. I'll eat them for you."

"Choke on them, you wretch."

After an unknown amount of time, an old man gracefully settled into a seat beside their table. Upon closer inspection, wasn't it the purple-robed elder who had appeared in the desolate forest the day before?

Casting a sideways glance at the purple-robed elder, Ye Chen's heart involuntarily skipped a beat.

Although their cultivation was suppressed, the purple-robed elder gave him a feeling of being crushed by a towering mountain.

Ye Chen withdrew his gaze. The purple-robed elder also subtly tilted his head and looked at Ye Chen, a flicker of surprise in his eyes.

"People from the Qi family of the Southern Border have arrived," someone suddenly shouted.

At the entrance, three grey-clothed elders had entered and proceeded directly to a private room on the second floor.

"The Situ family from Western Shu has also arrived."

"Is that the Wang family from Northern River? They actually came too."

"The Shangguan family from Eastern Yue."

Most of the arrivals were cultivation families, and their entourages were substantial, drawing the attention of all the cultivators in the pavilion.

"Didn't your Xiong family send anyone?" Ye Chen couldn't help but ask Xiong Er, glancing at the procession of influential families entering the doorway.

"They did!" Xiong Er, still munching on a spirit fruit, pointed towards a stocky, portly individual nearby. "Look, that's my second uncle."

"Your second uncle looks… quite unconventional!"

"Naturally."

"The Hengyue Sect also sent people!" another voice suddenly announced.

Upon hearing this, Ye Chen and Xiong Er both looked over. A middle-aged man carrying a sword had stepped through the entrance, his figure as straight as a mountain, his stride powerful and commanding, radiating an aura like thunder and wind.

"Is this person from the Hengyue Sect? How have I never seen him?" Ye Chen turned to Xiong Er. "Have you seen him?"

"The peak master of the Sword Controlling Peak in the inner sect," Xiong Er, who apparently recognized him, replied. "I think his name is Feng Wuhen."

"People from the True Sun Sect have also arrived!" As if on cue, a voice from below announced the arrival of a grey-haired elder.

"Wu Changqing." Ye Chen recognized this person instantly. Wasn't he the elder of the Law Enforcement Hall from the True Sun Sect? It was precisely this Wu Changqing who had driven him out of the True Sun Sect that day.

"The Qingyun Sect also sent people."

As these words were spoken, a green-clothed elder leaning on a cane entered, followed by an old woman and a purple-clothed youth.

The moment Ye Chen's gaze fell upon them, his eyes narrowed, especially upon seeing the white-clothed youth. A chilling light flickered within his pupils. Wasn't that purple-clothed youth the one who had crippled his dantian that day?

Ye Chen recognized him even if he were reduced to ashes. It was none other than Lv Zhi, the second-ranked true disciple among the Qingyun Sect's nine great true disciples.

"This debt must be repaid," Ye Chen's fists subconsciously clenched.

After the people from the three sects ascended to the second floor, three more figures entered the doorway: a grey-haired elder, a purple-robed middle-aged man, and a white-robed youth.

Upon seeing them, Ye Chen's eyes narrowed again. Weren't these the three who had pursued and attempted to kill Chu Ling'er in the demonic beast forest that day? Ye Chen never expected to encounter them again here.

"People from the Bloodthirsty Hall." Mostly surprised voices could be heard throughout the venue.

The Great Chu's one hall and three sects. The Bloodthirsty Hall dominated Northern Chu, a truly colossal force that even the three sects dared not provoke easily.

"This time it's going to be lively."

"Acquiring treasures will probably not be easy."

Below, on a high platform, an elderly figure had already ascended. Everyone here addressed him as Elder Yang.

"You should all be familiar with the rules here, so I won't waste words," Elder Yang spoke straightforwardly. "The auction begins."

Immediately, a person carrying a spirit sword ascended the stage.

The spirit sword was enveloped in a winding purple light, its sharp gleam intimidating. Occasionally, it would emit a resonant hum, undeniably a terrifying killing weapon.

"The Purple Sun Sword, with a starting price of fifty thousand spirit stones. The highest bidder wins."

"I bid fifty-one thousand." Quickly, someone below raised their bidding paddle.

"Fifty-three thousand."

"Sixty thousand."

In just over ten breaths, the price of a single spirit sword had soared. As the price continuously climbed, the auction became heated.

"This is too expensive," Ye Chen couldn't help but exclaim in the corner. The starting bid for the very first item was so high that his spirit stones wouldn't even be enough.

"Haven't you heard of a good start?" Xiong Er said. "The first item is to liven up the atmosphere. There will be cheaper ones later."

"Eighty thousand spirit stones."

"Eighty-five thousand."

"Ninety thousand."

Below, the competition remained fierce. To acquire the Purple Sun Sword, everyone was desperately bidding, their faces flushed and necks bulging.

"One hundred thousand." Just then, a voice from the second floor was heard. The bidder was none other than Wu Changqing from the True Sun Sect.

At this, the people below simply stopped.

"If no one bids higher, this Purple Sun Sword belongs to the True Sun Sect." On the high platform, Elder Yang scanned the crowd. Seeing no further bids, he waved his hand and the Purple Sun Sword was withdrawn into his sleeve.

Immediately after, another person ascended the stage, their hands holding a small copper furnace. The small copper furnace was covered in intricate Dao patterns, radiating a vibrant red light. Although it was only the size of a palm, it exuded a majestic aura.

"The Yang Copper Furnace, starting price thirty thousand. Bidding begins now."

Quickly, people below began to bid, and quite boldly added ten thousand spirit stones at a time.

"Fifty thousand."

"Seventy thousand."

"I bid ninety thousand."

Bidding voices followed one after another, all expressing their determination to acquire this small copper furnace.

"This small copper furnace isn't bad either," Ye Chen mused, stroking his chin.

"If you want it, then bid," Xiong Er said.

"No money."

"Then I said nothing."

In an instant, the small copper furnace below had reached a high price of one hundred and fifty thousand. And judging by the situation, this one hundred and fifty thousand spirit stones still wouldn't be enough to secure it.

"One hundred and sixty thousand, our Qingyun Sect will take it." From above, the voice of the Qingyun Sect elder was heard.

Immediately, the bidding below ceased. Aside from the price of one hundred and sixty thousand spirit stones, the Qingyun Sect's status as a colossal force was enough to deter most ordinary individuals from provoking them.

"Since no one is bidding higher, this Azure Dragon will belong to the Qingyun Sect." Elder Yang scanned the crowd. Seeing no further bids, he waved his sleeve and the small copper furnace was withdrawn.

Next, he produced another spirit tool – an Eight Trigrams Mirror. The moment it was taken out, it scattered a blinding spiritual light, its divine radiance dazzling the eyes and revealing terrifying energy fluctuations.

"Starting price ten thousand, bidding begins."

"Eleven thousand." A purple-clothed Daoist below was the first to bid.

"Zhou Cang, you are so petty. You won't be able to take away this Eight Trigrams Mirror," another voice, that of a sinister-faced, white-haired elder, scoffed coldly.

"I bid twelve thousand," the white-haired elder laughed malevolently.

Zhou Cang's expression was cold. He snorted, "I'll add ten thousand to your bid, thirteen thousand."

"Fifteen thousand."

"I bid seventeen thousand."

The entire Hidden Dragon Pavilion was filled with the sounds of these two people bidding. The two seemed to have a long-standing feud, and every word was filled with cold intent and hostility. Even if it meant a fierce struggle, they had to determine a winner in this price war.

Indeed, this auction in the Youming Black Market was not as peaceful as it appeared on the surface. In reality, these individuals were all engaged in a hidden struggle.

"Twenty thousand."

"I'll add ten thousand to your bid, twenty-one thousand."

The competition for the Eight Trigrams Mirror was abnormally fierce. The two individuals fought until their faces were red and their necks were thick. Only when a third person joined did the balance break, followed by a fourth, and a fifth.

As the number of competitors continuously increased, the price of the Eight Trigrams Mirror sharply rose to over thirty thousand.

"Damn it, I was just about to jump in!" Xiong Er fumed. "Driving the price up so high, truly a bunch of beasts."

"Why do I feel like this auction has nothing to do with the two of us?"

"Having no money is truly suffocating."

Below, the bidding for the Eight Trigrams Mirror had ended. The winning bidder was unexpectedly a thin elder resembling a monkey.

Hum.

Hum.

Those cultivators who had formed animosity over the Eight Trigrams Mirror all coldly snorted, their eyes filled with chilling light.

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